Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-12-25

guished by being painted outside in
squares and stripes OF the most brilliant
colors. Viennese leather, bronze, and
trinket shops have begun to use the Aus
trian colors, yellow and black; then the
Spanish wine shop, use yellow and red
the Italian grocer ghite and red. The
business places where carts for re-
moval are kept are painted yellow, ms
well as the wagops-why, not even
the proprietors know. Pastry-shops are
light brown outside, and within white
and gold, so that one is reminded oil the
pastry itself. Milk shops are white and
blue, both inside and out. The washer
women now begin to paint the outside
of their ironing shops n bright blue,
while the carts that take the linen TO the
wash-houses in the country are bright
green. Wine houses are all painted
brown or q dull red, which is exactly the
color Of the Gin Ordiadire mixed with
cranberry juice and logwood. Still
darker is the color OF the charcoal hops,
which the dust soon renders completely
black. Bakers are fond of light brown
and white, with much gliding and large
mirrors.
There is a Philadelphia grocer who
firmly believes that 10 is an unlucky
number. He advertised TO give every
thirteenth purchaser OF goods the
amount OF that purchase free, and
thought he had made "ten strike
when he witnessed the stir it made in his
place after several lucky unlucky thirteen
purchasers spread the news of their
getting the goods free about the
place. But some boys worked o little
game that caused him to repent of his
rash over. A dozen of them entered his
store, one after the other, and bought
small articles, the entire amount OF their
purchases not amounting to one dollar.
But imagine the grocer's horror when the
thirteenth purchaser, a man, walked IN
and ordered barrel OF sugar, ten pounds
of colorless Japan tea. ten pounds OF cot
fee, and box OF cigars The grocer
knew he daro not 60 back on his offer,
so he ruefully put up the goods gratis,
but he hurried to take down the sign and
hang up one saying that the offer had
been withdrawn.
New York police officers are studying
uD new system to aid themselves in de-
tecting criminals of high aid low degree.
1t is called tire anthropometric system,
and is intended as an addition to the
rogue's gallery. In future when dan
gerous suspect is arrested a registry will
be taken Of the width and length OF his
head. the length os his left forearm. the
length and breadth Of his left foot,
the length OF the little and mid
die fingers Of both hands, the
length of his right ear, size OF his
mouth. a description Of his nose and
eyes, the size of his chest while stand
ing, the length of his body while seated,
the length Of his legs and entire body,
the size of his neck, the full stretch OF
his arms, and the breadth Of his back
from shoulder to shoulder. Particular
attention will he paid TO deformi.ies,
marks, or scars. I'll the measurements
will be taken with graduated rules, cali
per cOmpasses, and one or two other
trustworthy Instruments The record
will be kept in book, which will con-
tain printed directions and formula for
the examiner.
tits reported from Cincinnati that Aid
| Willis. an aged cobbler, has developed
extraordinary powers as a spirituallstlc
medium. 4 few nights ago he attended
writing seance, and was told that he
possessed "mediumistic powers" aud he
was urged to sit for development Night
after night for more than two weeks he
tried to communicate with the "spirit3,'
and was about to give up, when he heard
muilied raps. Nightly thereafter tine
manifestations became more pronounced,
and finally Willis invited q number Of
F friends to witness the power " that had
come to him. Last Sunday night n
large party attended one OF the
seances. 4 brightly burning lamp
/ placed on u shoe box in the centre OF
the room made it impossible for any de-
ception 20 be- praciiccd, at least 10y WI
lis After time heBlgnitied his wiling
ness to attempt a written seance, and
one Of the party wrote II question, scaled
it in an envelope, aud placed 1t beneath
the lamp. ia short time a slip OF
paper fell at the feet of the question
er, and neatly written on it was the an
swer to the question, which had remain
ed in the envelope unopened, with no
signs Of the seal having been broken.
Willis had not left his seat, nor bad any
member Of the company. The shoe
makers sewing-machine WAS run by
some invisible power, heavy oak chest
was turned about, and either was play
cd by unseen hands.